National Cathedral: Chief Justice Apologizes To 9 Judges Facing Eviction
The government of Ghana has confirmed reports of a planned demolition exercise at Ridge to make way for the construction of the National Cathedral.
Earlier this month, Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., revealed that he had intercepted documents which indicated government's intention to demolish buildings from the Passport office all the way to the roundabout close to the Ridge Hospital.
This demolition is to make way for the construction of the National Cathedral; an edifice which is going to be an iconic centre for thanksgiving and to worship God for His mercies, according to President Akufo-Addo.
But some have questioned the rationale behind pulling down all buildings ffor the take-off of the multipurpose Cathedral.
Among residents on that stretch are some nine Judges who are also going to lose their homes - 10 six-bedroom bungalows built by the Judicial Service to house Court of Appeal Judges - before the take-off of the project which is scheduled as part of Ghana's 60th-anniversary celebrations.
These nine Judges whose bungalows have been affected will be moved into a rented apartment while government constructs new bungalows at Cantonments to be handed over to the Judicial Service in 2020. About 21 plush residential villas as well as a training facility for the Judicial Service, are to be built to replace the structures set to be demolished.
Below is a copy of a letter from the office of the Chief Justice informing the affected Justices about the relocation
I write to apologise to all Judges affected by the relocation of bungalows exercise for the Administrations inability to provide you with timely written notification to relocate from your present accommodation.
On the 5th of April 2018, a delegation from the Office of the President informed me of the Government’s intention to utilize the entire area of land between the State House Ridge Roundabout for the construction of the proposed National Cathedral Project.
The delegation, which was led by the Rev. Dr. Asante Antwi (Chairman) included Most Rev. Bishop Justice Offei Akrofi (the former Anglican Archbishop of Accra), the Hon. Peter Amewu (the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources) and Dr Paul Opoku-Mensah.
As proposed, the National Cathedral Project will result in the demolition of all buildings within the project catchment area, from the Ridge Circle to the Scholarship Secretariat, including bungalows occupied by our Judges and the Judicial Training Institute at East Ridge.
In lieu of this, the Government has committed to construct twenty one (21) new bungalows on the Second Circular Road, Cantonments to replace the ones affected by the project. Construction of the new bungalow is expected to be completed and handed over to the Service by January 2020.
Meanwhile, Government has provided temporary residential buildings for all Judges affected for the period the new bungalows would be under construction. These bungalows have been allocated to enable all Judges affected to temporarily relocate from their present accommodation.
The Hon. Minister of Lands and Natural Resources by a letter dated 24th July 2018 formally confirmed the verbal representations made at the 5th April 2018 meeting, i.e. the relocation of the Judges affected by the National Cathedral Project and the construction of the twenty-one (21) new bungalows, as well as land for the Judicial Training Institute.
The late formal communication from the Senior Minister made it difficult for us to give you early notification on the relocation from your current residential accommodation, although I admit that since the agreement in principle had been reached, it would have been proper for us to give you a hint at least.
Please accept our apologies for the delay in notifying you of the relocation.
JUSTICE JULIUS ANSAH AG. CHIEF JUSTICE
Justice F. Kusi Appioh Justice of Appeal
H/L Justice Mariama Owusu Justice of Appeal
H/L Justice Clemence J. Honyenuga
H/L Justice Avril Lovelace-Johnson Justice of Appeal
<<Print>>